Smith v. Norris' Heirs
Smith v. Norris' Heirs
Opinion of the Court
Opinion of the Court by
Samuel Smith was the administrator of John Norris, deceased, and, as such, disposed of nearly all his personal effects. Smith, before making any settlement of 'his accounts as administrator, died, and his son, the present appellant, Samuel V. Smith, ivas appointed his administrator, and was also appointed administrator de bonis non of John Norris. The present suit in equity was brought 'by the children of John Norris, deceased, against the appellant for a settlement of the estate of John Norris so far as it passed into the 'hands of his intestate, and also of the estate that appellant took into possession, etc., as administrator de bonis non. The case was referred to a commissioner who reported an indebtedness on the part of appellant’s' intestate as administrator of Norris for several hundred dollars. It seems that but very little, if any, property of the estate of Norris passed into the hands of the appellant as administrator de bonis non. The court below, 'however, charges the appellant with all the monies and value of property that passed to 'his intestate as administrator of Norris, and' renders a personal judgment against the appellant for the whole amount. There is no devastavit and no effort ever made so far as this record shows to have a settlement with the appellant until this suit was brought. The judgment should have been against the appellant as the administrator of his father, Samuel Smith, to be levied of assets in his hands as such. Exceptions were filed by both the appellant and the appellees to the commissioner’s report and some of these exceptions should have been sustained by the court below. The grandfather of Norris’ children, who was appellant’s intestate, should not have been allowed anything for the support, clothing, etc., of Norris’ children. Other panties were willing to take these children and care for them without reward, but the old man
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.